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GREENSBORO — If you've been dying to blast those sprinklers, your time is likely coming soon. Although if it keeps raining as it has lately, you won't need to.


Should restrictions be voluntary? Join the discussion at the Debatables blog.

With reservoirs full and stream flows up, the city is set to scale back from mandatory to voluntary water restrictions.


Allan Williams, director of the city water resources department, said he plans to recommend the switch this week.


The recommendation goes to the city manager, who will make the call.


The mandatory restrictions, which have been in effect for seven months, have meant sprinkling was allowed once a week or, for a time, not at all.


The end of the restrictions is good news for homeowners obsessed with having the greenest lawn and for the landscaping industry.


Sean Pancoast, the nursery manager at New Garden Nursery, said business has been off, although the wetter spring has been bringing relief.


"Mother Nature's taken good care of us with the rain," he said.


Still, Pancoast said, it's important to conserve water, and many customers are looking for drought-tolerant plants.


Officially, the area remains in a drought. Most of the county remains in extreme drought, the second most serious drought category.


Since March 1, however, the area has received a soaking, with the 6 inches of rainfall during that period nearly 2 inches above normal.


That rain also means the end of mandatory restrictions won't cause a big increase in water use.


"I don't think anybody out there is ready to cut the sprinkler on today," Williams said.


The experience of going through the drought and the restrictions also has an effect on residents' attitudes about water use.


"People will tend to use less water," Williams said.

Contact Jason Hardin at 373-7021 or at jason.hardin@news-record.com